NIVIAN

SHE WAS TIRED. So tired. Nivian tried to sit up but something held her down. Thoughts struggled to form, leaving her with only broken fragments.

Her eyes fluttered open, but all she saw was darkness.

Nivian tried again to move, but her muscles refused to respond. It was as though dozens of hands held her down. So many hands. Boney and sharp.

Her mind screamed out as she struggled to draw breath. The thin fingers dug into her flesh, spreading ice over her skin and freezing her and numbing her until she could feel nothing more than the unyielding pressure weighing her down.

The harder she fought to free herself from the grasp of darkness, the more it stole her strength—stole her will. Until all she had left was resignation.

Wavering shadows reached for her, wrapping around her throat.

She opened her mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

Sweat coated her forehead as Nivian fought to control her breathing. She placed a clammy palm against her forehead and pushed the dark strands off her face that had worked their way loose from her plait. She took in the small room that could fit little more than her bed and an armoire for her clothes.

The dream… no, nightmare, was hazy as she thought back on it. But the harder she tried to remember, the more the details escaped her grasp. Even now, the dream had left her feeling raw on the inside. Nivian pressed a hand to her throat and rubbed. The ghost of the hands that had strangled her still lingered, and as she swallowed, the inside of her throat felt scratched and bruised.

Nivian listened for sounds of her family stirring. If she had screamed, they would be up and in her room in no time, and her sister, Eloise, would have woken.

While prone to nightmares and intense dreams that felt all too real, it had been many years since she’d had one. She had thought them gone for good. Nivian pulled her legs to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, and squeezed tightly.

She rested her chin on her knees and looked out her window. The moon hung heavy, falling nearer to the horizon, but it was still a while before dawn would arrive. She dropped back down on her pillow and closed her eyes, trying to get a few more moments of sleep before she had to be awake.

Minutes later, she groaned and sat back up. Her heart was still pounding too hard, her mind racing too fast, for her to go back to sleep, still struggling to grasp any sliver of the dream that had woken her.

It was too close to dawn for her to bother. Even if sleep did come again, she wouldn’t manage more than a few moments anyway.

Nivian slid her legs off the side of the bed and grabbed a pair of leggings, pulling them on, then she slipped her feet into her supple leather boots and laced them up.

“Nivian?” Eloise muttered, rolling over. “What’s wrong?”

Nivian crossed the room and brushed her hand over her sister’s head soothingly. “Shuush. Nothing’s wrong,” she said, pulling the blankets up over her sister’s shoulders. “Go back to sleep. It is not yet dawn.”

The girl mumbled something unintelligible then rolled back over to her side. Her breathing slowed again in seconds. Nivian waited several minutes before moving again, just to be sure.

Taking the tie out of her hair, she brushed her fingers through the long, dark strands before redoing the plait.

She tiptoed to the door then stopped, hand hovering over the door knob. Looking over her shoulder, she chewed her lip. Better to go out the window than to wake the others by walking down the creaking stairs out the front door.

Crossing the room, Nivian pulled open the window and climbed out. Holding onto the window ledge, her feet pressed against the stone siding. It was farther down than she would have liked but… She pushed off, twisting in mid-air, and landed in a hard crouch.

Nivian hissed through her teeth from the impact then rose slowly to full height. She winced slightly at the ache in her knees. It would fade soon enough. With each step, the pain lessened. It was times like these that made her glad of her Watcher’s abilities.

She walked along the old dirt path until she neared the tree at the edge of the forest. Her tree. Crossing into the field, she made her way inward. The crisp air cut through the unbearable heat of the day before, lingering even so close to a new dawn, and brushed against her cheeks. Soon the season would turn. And though she wouldn’t miss the scorching heat of mid-day, she hated to see the flowers and leaves wither and die.

Nivian dropped down at the base of the tree and leaned back against the rough bark. She tilted her chin skyward and watched the twinkling stars fade, serenaded by the lulling song of the river. A rare moment of true peace amidst the unease that had plagued her the last several weeks.

She pulled in a deep breath then let it out slowly. This spot had become more than just her personal sanctuary as of late. It had become a place to spend time with a Dark Guardian. The strange man who had done the job of a Watcher and had most likely saved her life by doing so. They had met several times each week, and now she had trouble thinking of this as her spot instead of their spot. And no part of her heart seemed to mind. She was glad to have the company of another.

Her fingers slid across the smooth metal of the howling wolf and crescent broach pinned to her high neckline. It had been kind of Caspian to return it to her, though she still wondered how he’d known. Warmth spread through her at the thought of him.

A unique friend indeed.

Nivian cherished the stolen moments they shared. Her teeth scraped along her bottom lip. She hadn’t told anyone about him. Not her friends within her clan, not her family… not even Kain, her most trusted confidant. It wasn’t as if she were ashamed. She wasn’t.

In truth, part of the reason she kept it to herself was because she had no idea how the others would react, and she didn’t want them trying to convince her that he was a villain to be feared. But the biggest reason was she just wasn’t ready to share it. To share her feelings… whatever they were. She wanted to feel them without judgment from her clan, wanted to figure out exactly what she felt and put a name to it, wanted to understand why she trusted him as she did when it was so against everything she’d grown to know.

She plucked a blade of grass and twirled it between her fingers before letting it flutter to the ground at her side, then another.

For now, this was hers, and whatever he was, friend or ally or… She didn’t know, but she wasn’t ready to share any part of it. Not yet.

She felt the chill of his powers before he appeared. Nivian looked up to find Caspian at the water’s edge, walking toward her. A wide, knowing smile graced his mouth and, for a moment, Nivian thought he appeared because he could hear her thoughts about him.

She couldn’t help the blush that bloomed, rising up her neck to her face.

When he was within speaking distance, he stopped, waiting for an invitation to join her. Always waiting for permission. Nivian patted the ground beside her and he took a seat next to her. His cloak spread out to the side, and his shoulder just close enough to brush up against hers as he settled.

“Morning,” she said quietly, tilting her head to the side to look at him from the corner of her eye.

“Good morning, Nivi.”

She narrowed her eyes at him, unable to keep the corners of her mouth from tilting up. “Nivi?”

Caspian cleared his throat and had the decency to look almost embarrassed. “I apologize, Nivian, I did not mean—”

“I think I like it,” she murmured and leaned her head on his shoulder. “You can call me Nivi.”

She let her hand fall to his, brushing the back of his hand and sliding her fingertips along his skin before weaving her fingers with his. She didn’t know what possessed her to do it, but it felt right. Caspian sucked in a breath, and she felt his body tense against hers, then slowly relax.

If only all Watchers could see the Dark Guardians as she saw Caspian. Their groups should work together—even he thought as much. Perhaps she would speak to Yeva about it when she got the chance. Together, their friendship could change everything.

The sun peeked over the horizon and, with it, brought the heat of the day.

Nivian pulled Caspian’s arm into her side and snuggled into him.

KAIN

Kain headed toward the end of the Watchers village near the river that jutted up against the forest. Summer would end soon, which meant the humans would be wandering nearer to the edges of the forest in preparation for the autumn celebrations.

If any ventured too far into the trees, they could stumble into areas not safe for such fragile bodies. The wards Yeva had set up within should prevent such things, but it still made him nervous to see them so close to their sacred grounds.

He stopped in the middle of the crossroads when he spotted a figure heading toward him. Finn. And he was coming from the direction of Nivian’s dwelling. Even from where he stood, Kain could see the annoyance rolling off the man. So he waited with his hands in his pockets and the toe of his boot kicking stray pebbles.

When Finn got within a few yards, Kain called out, “What’s gotten into you today? Nivian giving you problems again?”

Finn’s head snapped up, his scowl faltering. He harrumphed and crossed his arms over his chest, averting his eyes. Then after a few heartbeats, he finally answered, “Nivian’s been acting different than usual.”

Kain arched both brows. “Oh?”

He’d been kidding. Nivian always teased the man, usually to some form of annoyance, but there had always been humor in it. Now, Finn had nothing but worry in his tone. He might not have teased Finn had he have known.

“She snuck out early, through her window, just before dawn.”

Kain waited for more. Nivian could come and go as she pleased. They all could. So why would she feel the need to sneak out? It was unlike her to wander off without saying a word to anyone, but even more unlike her to sneak away.

“I thought she would have been with you—” Finn hesitated. “You know, given your… friendship.”

Kain frowned at what Finn’s tone implied. Of course he and Nivian were friends. There was no one in the world he was closer to. Everyone knew that. But that’s all it was. They’d once thought to become more, but the harder they tried, the more the world seemed to pull them apart. Eventually, they stopped trying and decided life would let them know when, and if, it was the path they were meant to walk.

“I’ll find her,” Kain said. He looked northward, at the forest in the distance. He didn’t need to start patrolling for another hour or so. “Don’t worry too much just yet. I’m sure there’s a reason she used her window instead of the door.”

“Thanks.” Finn nodded. “But if there is…”

“Then I will find out.”

Finn gave him a weak smile then walked away looking a little lighter. Kain rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. He should try Nivian’s dwelling first, in case she had returned by now, then he’d see where her tracks, if any, led from there.

Kain jogged down the dirt road, slowing to a walk as he reached the front of a small stone dwelling. He lifted his hand to knock and froze midair as the door swung open to reveal Cora’s smiling face.

“Kain!” Nivian’s older sister threw her arms around his neck. “It has been too long. Where have you been?”

Kain shrugged noncommittally. “I’ve missed you too, Cora” She pulled away and he ruffled her hair. “I’m sorry to say I’m not here on a visit. I’m actually looking for Nivian. Have you seen her?”

Cora looked toward the stairs. “No, I'd thought she’d slept in but when I went to wake her, she was already gone. Perhaps she went on patrol early?”

He nodded, knowing full well she hadn’t been assigned a patrol for that day, but he didn't see the point in worrying her family before he knew what was going on.

“Thanks. I’ll go check it out.” Kain turned, waving as he walked away. Then once the door closed, he sprinted for the side of the house, stopping below Nivian’s bedroom window.

He bent down to search the ground and found one set of footprints leading off toward the Mezzanine river. It was her place for peace. So that was a good sign. Kain felt the tension in his shoulders ease slightly.

When she’d first been created, Nivian had suffered nightmares almost weekly, and Kain had often found her by the river. As hard as they tried, neither he nor Yeva could find a cause or reason for them. And nothing Yeva did, with all her efforts, could prevent them. They’d nearly stopped once she had been paired with him on several assignments in a row, then lessening even more over time until they had stopped altogether.

He worried the dreams had started again if she was sneaking out in the middle of the night.

Kain crested the hill and stopped. His nostrils flared at the nearly metallic scent along the wind. Next to Nivian’s tree—next to Nivian—was a man he’d never seen before. Black hair pulled back at the nape of his pale neck, wearing a black cloak instead of Watcher red.

His mind stumbled over itself wishing to see a normal mortal talking to her. It wouldn’t be unheard of… only rare.

The two of them stopped and looked out toward him. Then the man gave her a slight nod of his head then vanished.

Kain’s world grew unsteady, his vision wavering with it. There was only one thing that man could have been. Only one. Still his mind—his heart—refused to accept it.

He didn’t know how long he stood there grappling with what he’d seen. The muscles keeping him upright barely seemed to work, feeling wooden. His legs refused to move until Nivian was already halfway to him.

Nivian smiled as she always did upon seeing him. Carefree and truly happy.

How could she act like that, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened? Kain seethed inwardly. If that Reaper had done something to her, he would make it his only goal in life to hunt him down and destroy him.

“We are to be on patrol together tonight,” he lied. It wouldn’t be an issue. All he would have to do is talk to Yeva and request Nivian and it would be done. “Finn was looking for you earlier.”

“Was he?” she asked absentmindedly.

Kain looked into her face, tilted up to the warm sun, eyes closed, and long dark lashes fanning across her cheeks.

“Nivian?” He wasn’t sure now was the time to ask, but his mouth continued on not waiting for his brain to catch up with such things as logic and reasoning. “Who was with you?”

The corners of her mouth twitched downward as she fought the frown trying to form. She looked at him, squinting from the bright day.

“No one,” she said in a more terse tone than she normally used with him.

“No one?” he huffed. “Nivian, I saw a man with you.”

She smiled then and put a hand gently on his upper arm. “He’s just a friend.”

He waited for more. Instead, she dropped her hand and walked away, heading toward the village as though spending time with Reapers was a perfectly normal part of their day. Kain stared after her for a moment before breaking into a jog to catch up.

Nivian’s head whipped around to face him as he pulled her to a stop.

“Nivian, that wasn’t a man,” Kain said so low that Nivian leaned forward to hear him. His eyes darted from side to side. “That was a Reaper.”

The joy in her face melted into something sad and filled with worry. He could all but see the thoughts running through her mind—could see her debating on if she could get away with lying to him, or if she had to be honest. Finally, she heaved a heavy sigh.

“A Dark Guardian,” she corrected almost as softly as he’d spoken.

“Nivian…” he said. Shadows darkened her eyes at his concern. “What are you doing?”

Kain’s heart pounded quickly. He studied her face, searching for any sign of change which could explain why she’d talk to a Dark Guardian alone, why she would call one a friend. Had the Guardians somehow gained new powers without the Watchers knowing?

“Has he done something to you?”

Her spine straightened and Nivian tsked, looking away in annoyance. She crossed her arms and said, “Don’t be foolish.”

She sounded like herself, her annoyance at being treated as anything but clearheaded, the expression that said she’d expected more from him. Shame curdled in his gut. It bothered her when the others treated her as if she were a child because she appreciated time alone. Except him, he made it a point to never treat her like that. Not until now.

“That’s not what I meant.”

Her features softened, the tension in her stance lessening. But she didn’t respond. As quiet as she tended to be, this was something else entirely. Nivian was closed off to him. Perhaps for the first time ever. His lungs ached from trying to keep his breathing even.

The others would see this as a betrayal. Watchers and Dark Guardians did not associate with each other. And on the rare occasion when a Watcher was seen with one, they usually wound up destroyed.

Kain’s blood ran cold at the thought of seeing her body pale and cold and unmoving. “Nivian, please tell me what’s going on.”

“It’s not what you think,” she said quietly.

“Oh?” He couldn’t keep the hurt from his voice. “And what do I think it is? You can’t trust any of them.”

She softened right before his eyes, not meeting his anger with her own, but, instead, with all the warmth she held for him. Nivian slipped her hand over the back of his neck and he allowed her to pull him forward until his forehead rested against her own. He had to slouch to meet her.

“But will you trust me?” she whispered.

Kain closed his eyes. She was asking a lot. But he couldn’t refuse her, even if his better judgement was begging him to say no and to shake her until she found her common sense again.

He swallowed hard. “Okay.”

“I will explain when the time is right.”

For now, that was good enough for him. Nivian pushed up on her toes then pressed a kiss upon his cheek. Then she pulled away. By the time he opened his eyes again, she was gone, leaving a dull ache in his chest where she had been only moments before.